3 days to go.

I’m now in countdown stage for my holidays and would you believe my back is worse than ever, the spasm in the scan on Monday has sent it into melt down mode.

I’m taking heat patches to the Dominican Republic how crazy is that?

I have a few posts scheduled in ready so I won’t leave you high and dry and I will try to do a post or two from my holidays. I’m super busy today at work, tidying all the loose ends up with it being my last day for 3 whole weeks.

I’m going to show you some pages that I made of Kevin Renz my gorgeous friend Katie's husband from his last road trip, Man It looks good.

I love this one with the ice road cutting through the hills in the background.

Arriving at Alaska

I think if I came across this character I’d for run to the hills.

Then back home to the boys and a trip to the beach.

A Special Gift from Katie

Those of you that have been with me for a while will know that my dear friend Katie Renz passed away recently, such a sad time for both family and friends of such a dear, dear lady.

When Katie and I chatted we would often talk about living close to the sea, although many miles between us we would call each other across the sea friends and after the fund raising you all helped me with, Katie wanted to do something for me, I jokingly said to her send me a pebble from your coastline and I’ll use it as a paperweight, of course Katie immediately said she would and to be honest I never gave it a second thought.

Then I got the devastating news that Katie had slipped away from us and her husband Kevin's Mum told me she needed my address because Katie had indeed gone and chosen a pebble from their coastline and given her the task of having it engraved for me. Katie even while so poorly still thought of others.

It arrived on Friday with a beautiful thank you card that friends made for the family to give out and the most gorgeous ribbon bow, inside the card it read “The ribbon from your flowers” these were the flowers that I sent for Katie's funeral. I sat on the floor and wept. Not with sorrow but with gratitude that Katie was part of my life and that both Kevin (Katie’s Husband) and Elizabeth (Katie’s Mother in Law) are still part of my life and beautiful people.

So as you can see I have a fabulous paper weight and every time I pop a piece of craft paper under my pebble I will think of my dear friend Katie Emmerson Renz. miss you Katie xxx

In Memory of a Beautiful Friend

It is with deep regret that that a have to tell you that my beautiful friend Katie Renz passed away yesterday morning, Katie has left behind a very devoted Husband Kevin and 3 wonderful sons Hunter, Will and Nate.

Katie was such a beautiful lady and so very loved by all that knew her.

I know that many of you gave so generously to the fundraising and went on to follow Katie's battle with gastric cancer, Thank you dear friends.

When Katie first told me of her illness I sent her a guardian angel necklace to watch over her and she sent me this photo of her.

I wanted to do scrapbook page to keep in her memory…. love you Katie.

I know that many of you will want to send cards. The address to send them to is below.

The Renz Family
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

Anyone still wishing to donate can do so here

 

We're still Swimming for Katie

There is a team of talented girls doing another hop for our dear Katie today so please hop along with them and get some inspiration.

Mina http://pinkpuds.blogspot.com/
Alice http://aliceslittlewonderland.blogspot.com/
Cathy http://inkitupstampitout.blogspot.com/ 
Debbie http://debbiepsplace.blogspot.com/
Heidy http://heidysscrappies.blogspot.com/
Jane http://janeyscards.blogspot.com/
Jeni http://jeniflipflop.blogspot.com/
Joyce http://gramstreasures.blogspot.com/
Julie http://catchmecrafting.blogspot.com/
Karen http://www.kjssummerwinekorner.blogspot.com/
Lori http://byloridesigns.blogspot.com/
Tammy http://tammy-tammyspot.blogspot.com/
Toni http://cuppa-craft.blogspot.com/

I’m Swimming for Katie, Can You Help too?

Most of you my followers know just how dear Katie Renz is to me, Katie has become part of my family over the last few years so much so that my husband, daughters, Mam and work friends always ask for updates to how Katie is doing.

Katie contacted me just before Christmas 2010 and told be the devastating news that she has stage 4 stomach cancer, I was floored. A mom of 3 wonderful boys and a loving wife of Kevin. I felt helpless I wanted to be there with her and give her a great big hug but knew it just wasn’t possible, I needed to help and this is where all of you crafting friends helped me to make a difference and give some stability with money worries for treatment for Katie.

So here I am once again desperately seeking your help, I am asking you to give what you can either in return for the fabulous stamps that are available or by donating what you can by means of the donation button.

"From October 10-12 some of the best stampers are joining together to support and encourage our friend and fellow stamper, Katie Renz, who is currently battling inoperable gastric cancer. If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year. This young, beautiful, healthy, vibrant mother of 3 with her infectious smile was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable cancer, virtually overnight. A few tummy aches and then stage 4 gastric cancer. Her first post about it is here. The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.
This exclusive stamp used in my sample, designed by Becky Oehlers is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file.

This is a list of everyone that will give you some inspiration from the above sets today

Amy Heller  Jackie Pedro  Julie Masse

Kecia Waters  Sandie Dunne  Susan Liles

Latisha Yoast  Laurie Schmidlin  Lisa Arana

Lisa Henke  Lisa Silver  Lydia Fiedler

Lyn Bernatovich  Lynette  Maria Gurnsey

Meg Craig  Melissa Bickford  Michelle Woerner

Mona Pendleton  Niki Estes  Robyn Weatherspoon

Sarah Jay  Sarah Martina Parker  Savannah O'Gwynn

Stephanie Washburn  Susanna Boyd  Tobi Crawford

Julie Lacey  Kim Kesti  Shemaine Smith

Danielle Lounds  Debbie Carriere  DoBea A.

Fran Gumprecht  Geny Cassady  Gina K.

Holly McMillen  Jak Heath  Javablustamper/Jacquie

Kimberly Crawford  Trudy Sjolander

100% of the profits go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family. Her husband Kevin and her three young children need our help and support. In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker , True =D Doodle Designs as well as myself have also donated digis that are for sale. Direct donations are also being accepted.

To help raise money for Katie, Creating for Causes has generously donated a FREE ticket (value: $249.95) to one of their upcoming 3-day Scrap & Stamp Retreats.
The winner of the free ticket will enjoy 3 days of non-stop fun and creativity with fellow scrappers, stampers and papercrafters, and can choose between the Charlotte, NC Scrap & Stamp Ritzy Retreat at The Ritz-Carlton on October 21-23 or the Orlando, FL Scrap & Stamp Retreat at the Marriott World Center on November 4-6. Both retreats promise to spoil you and provide 48-straight hours of creating, camaraderie and fun!

Here's how it works:

Simply make a $33 donation for Katie and indicate that you want to be entered in the Creating for Causes Retreat ticket drawing. Everyone who makes a donation of $33 will be entered into the drawing and one lucky person will be attending this 3-day retreat for FREE! That lucky person could just be you!

Information central is HERE. This will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button.

Here are all the items available for sale.

Once again thank you all for the love you have shown to our beautiful Katie and her family.

Holiday Designs Help For Katie

A donation of $46 was sent to Katie

Mothering Sunday Card

I thought I would post a card made with the new digi £15 pack for Help4Katie this image is from the Floral Thoughts set it is the single flower, I added it several times to a square layout before colouring with Copic Markers, a bit of sponging to distress the edges, lots of matting and layering and a nestabilities label die to cut the center shape.

Fundraising Totals and Card Winners

Firstly the winners of the Thank You card competition.

1st prize of the stamps sets from Rubber Stamp Tapestry

Barbara Diane

Letraset Aqua markers set

Linda Goble

Apron Set

Glenda Atkins

If you could all contact me with your details I will get your prizes issued.

Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to everyone that took part, the cards are fabulous.

Now onto the total raised, I have to say that you were amazing, so much support and love showed to Katie and her family, the amount raised by all you kind hearted folk was...

Feeling Sad - Yet Happy

Such mixed emotions, my fundraising for my beautiful friend Katie has come to an end and whilst I can't even begin to convey my gratitude to all that donated and believe me when I say we have raised an incredible amount which I will post during the week, I am left feeling helpless once again.

While I was fundraising I felt like I was doing something constructive to help my friend, although it would not cure Katie I knew it would help in a big way, "so what now?"

I can't lean over and give Katie a hug as we have a mass of water between us, Katie in the US and I in the UK, I can lend an ear if she needs one, I can spread the awareness of the bravery of this lady and tell you to go to her blog and read her incredible journey here.

I can donate more Digital Stamps to a new Fundraising event for Katie which has brand new digital images for $15 so grab them while you can from here.

So why do I feel this way? I feel very much like a fairy that has lost her magic wand.

Something that has stuck in my throat from the day I found out about Katie is that the word Cancer is still a taboo subject, many whisper it's name or mime the word, Surely we should shout this word to raise awareness? it isn't a dirty word it is a horrible, horrible illness that holds no discrimination of who can get it, Black, White, Young, Old, Short, Tall, Fat or Thin, so, lets stop whispering it's name, lets shout it from the rooftops until we find a cure for every form of cancer there is.

Help for Katie

It is with a saddened heart that I am writing to ask for your help.

If ever you have drawn inspiration or ideas from my work, downloaded the many freebies that I give away I am now giving you the opportunity to give something back and do some good for a very dear family.

I would be thrilled if you would tell everyone about this fundraising be it blogs/facebook/twitter/forums or anywhere that will allow it

Katie Emmerson Renz married to Kevin with 3 beautiful boys the twins Nate & Will aged 5 and Hunter aged 10 had some news just before Christmas that has rocked their world as they know it.

Katie has been diagnosed with stage 4 Stomach Cancer and is currently undergoing her only option which is Chemotherapy.

Katie is a fellow crafter and is loved within the crafting community.you can read Katie's story on her own blog here but before you leave me I want you to see what all of the dedicated talented artists have designed for the Help for Katie cause.

Katie and her Family would like to say a very special thank you to all of the artists that gave up their time to help make this happen

Fundraising has now Ended on my Blog

More fundraising here

All of the company badges below are linked to their sites just click on the badge to visit them.